7:30 AM ET The Washington Capitals will not have goaltender Ilya Samsonov for the NHL restart after the rookie suffered an undisclosed injury in his native Russia during the league hiatus, general manager Brian MacLellan told reporters Friday. MacLellan said Samsonov did not travel to Toronto after he failed a physical when he rejoined the

4:00 PM ET The box office at Capital One Arena in Washington is being transformed into a sportsbook, complete with betting windows and self-serve kiosks, and will begin taking cash bets Friday, a first for an American sports venue. Beginning at 4 p.m., Friday, bookmaker William Hill U.S. will operate seven betting windows and nine

2:24 PM ET Associated Press TORONTO — All-Star defenseman Dougie Hamilton won’t play for the Carolina Hurricanes in Saturday’s opener against the New York Rangers in the Eastern Conference’s expanded playoff qualifying round. Hamilton has missed multiple practices, though the league has prohibited teams from disclosing whether a player is injured or ill amid the

7:00 AM ET NHL Insiders The NHL restarts its season with a first-of-its-kind, 24-team postseason tournament Saturday. The field has expanded to 12 teams per conference, and the schedule includes games starting as early as noon ET most days, running through the 10:30 p.m. ET window. Yes, it’s hockey all day, and we’re just as

7:17 PM ET Associated Press SEATTLE — The Seattle Kraken added to their hockey operations staff by hiring Dave Baseggio as director of pro scouting Thursday. Baseggio spent the past 12 seasons with Anaheim as a pro scout, director of pro scouting and assistant to the general manager for the Ducks. Baseggio also played and

7:00 AM ET NHL Insiders After months of a pandemic-induced pause, the NHL returns in earnest Saturday. Players will hit the ice again as the NHL’s return-to-play plan hits Phase 4 and the postseason begins. Unlike the traditional playoff format, the league is running a 24-team tournament, with 12 teams from each conference playing in

7:00 AM ET On March 12, the NHL hit the pause button on the 2019-20 season because of the coronavirus pandemic. On Saturday, players will hit the ice again as the NHL’s return-to-play plan hits Phase 4 and the postseason begins. Unlike the traditional playoff format, the league is running a 24-team tournament, with 12

2:05 PM ET The Chicago Blackhawks have banned fans from wearing headdresses as costumes at team events and home games at the United Center, the team announced Wednesday. “We have always maintained an expectation that our fans uphold an atmosphere of respect, and after extensive and meaningful conversations with our Native American partners, we have

9:00 AM ET The Arizona Coyotes entered the Edmonton hub for the NHL’s restarted season over the weekend. Part of life in the “bubble” is seeing what it can keep out. Like, for example, outside distractions that could knock a team off course. “Yeah that’s been said. A bunch of times. Trust me,” head coach

12:08 AM ET Forward Sidney Crosby highlighted a star-laden return to the ice Tuesday, as six teams played in exhibitions in both cities of the NHL’s restart bubble. It was the first action of any kind from the league that paused its regular season in March amid the coronavirus pandemic, and with the Stanley Cup